Whiten Might Be Charged With Assault

MILWAUKEE - Mark Whiten, New York Yankee outfielder whose wife gave birth to a boy five days ago, was accused of sexual assault by a 31-year-old woman he allegedly brought to his hotel room over the weekend.

Whiten, 30, was released from Milwaukee County Jail last night on $10,000 bond, according to his Milwaukee lawyer, Steve Glynn.

The district attorney's office planned to review the case today and decide whether to file a criminal charge after meeting with Whiten, said Sgt. Earnell Lucas, a department spokesman. Police asked for a charge of second-degree sexual assault.

Police arrested the outfielder at 3:05 p.m. yesterday, just hours before the final game of the Yankees' series in Milwaukee. Police questioned Whiten at the city jail throughout the afternoon and transferred him to the county jail shortly after 9 p.m.

Whiten admitted having "what he called `consensual sexual relations with the woman,' " police said.

A police source told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that authorities initially held off arresting Whiten because his accuser had "credibility problems." The source said police questioned the woman's "mental stability."

BASEBALL TO NAME PRESIDENT

Paul Beeston, Toronto Blue Jay chief executive officer, was expected to be appointed Major League Baseball's first president today, a move that would give the game its first chief operating officer since 1993.

The announcement is likely to lead to Bud Selig accepting a permanent term as commissioner.

In his new position, Beeston will answer to Selig and the governing executive council but oversee every aspect of baseball except league presidents Gene Budig and Len Coleman.

VAUGHN ISN'T CHARGED

CLEVELAND - Mo Vaughn will not be charged with assault unless a man who says the Boston Red Sox first baseman hit him in the mouth can present more evidence that his story is true.

"We're not doing anything at the moment," chief prosecutor Carolyn Allen said.

Scott Bird, 24, of North Olmsted, Ohio, must show more witnesses and medical documentation before her office will press a misdemeanor assault charge, Allen said.

NOTES

-- Boston third baseman Tim Naehring Sox will have surgery on his right elbow and apparently miss the rest of the season. The Boston Herald reported that Naehring had a slightly torn ligament and would need surgery soon to be ready for the start of the 1998 season.

-- Colorado placed shortstop Walt Weiss on the 15-day disabled list and recalled infielder Craig Counsell from Class AAA Colorado Springs. Weiss aggravated a tender hamstring during yesterday's game in Montreal.

-- Sharon Robinson, the daughter of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, was appointed director of educational programming for Major League Baseball.

-- St. Louis left-hander Donovan Osborne, out 2 1/2 months with a torn groin muscle, is scheduled to pitch for Class AAA Louisville at New Orleans on Thursday, then start for the Cardinals next Tuesday in Houston.

Compiled from New York Daily News, Florida Today, USA Today, Associated Press and Bloomberg.